Israel has ordered Palestinians to leave parts of central Gaza, displacing more of the area’s 2.3 million-strong population and extending its bombing of the Gaza Strip. Families have been told to move to shelters in southern Gaza, outraging residents who have already been displaced multiple times.
Residents poured onto Salah al-Din Street, carrying what little they could after multiple attacks and displacement. Despite the Israeli army declaring it a safe route, displaced Palestinians have faced shooting, arrests, and even death in previous evacuations.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has become dire, with a lack of supplies, medicine, clean water, and fuel leading to the spread of disease. UN-run schools have become overcrowded shelters, with poor conditions leading to outbreaks of scabies and smallpox. Many Palestinians just want to return home, with the majority of residential units in the Strip having been damaged.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been urged to stop destroying homes and killing civilians. Rights groups have warned of the consequences of mass displacement, calling it a “war crime.” It is clear that the situation in Gaza is desperate and the need for assistance is urgent.